ACLU angry with detective’s punishment

Friday, Sept. 19, 1997 | 10:20 a.m.

Matthew Adams and the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada held a news conference Friday to denounce Metro's handling of the incident.

At 8:25 p.m. on Aug. 2, off-duty Metro Police Detective Glenn Thomas, 43, drew his weapon and pointed it at Adams after Adams was stopped because of a traffic altercation.

After an internal affairs bureau investigation determined Thomas' behavior was conduct unbecoming an officer, Thomas was handed a two-week suspension, police officials said.

That's not good enough for "terrorizing" a citizen, ACLU attorney Gary Peck said. "That officer is not getting counseling and is being sent out on the street with a loaded gun," Peck said. "He could explode again."

Adams said he is angry and hurt that little has been done to insure that Thomas does not repeat his actions.

Peck met with Las Vegas Mayor Jan Jones Thursday to discuss the implementation of a citizen's review board, which was approved by this year's Legislature.

"Metro and the district attorney are on notice that we're unhappy with Thomas' discipline" and expect further action, Peck said.

"If ever there was a case that underscores the need for a civilian review board to look into allegations of police misconduct at Metro, the Glenn Thomas case is it," Peck said.

"The district attorney's office ought to do its job and investigate this," he said "What happened was outrageous and the actions they took were wholly inadequate, and they need to get off their behinds and get on with the business of investigating this matter thoroughly."

Police officials said internal affairs investigators conducted the investigation as a personnel matter and sustained the charge against Thomas.

A criminal case has not been opened.